Thursday night is here again and so is WWE Superstars. They are filming from England. Traditionally, WWE shows from England have included solid wrestling and phoned-in creative efforts. Since Superstars focuses on the matches anyways, it could be a thumbs up episode. Not everything in WWE is thumbs up these days, however.

I am also going to take this opportunity to point out a major weakness in WWE’s programming. There is way too much crappy announcing. So much of it seems forced and scripted, that the announcers don’t even seem like real people. It really would not be the end of the world if they just let the announcers be themselves. This constant desire to overproduce everything makes the show seem like a vanilla yawnfest.

Match #1 –Matt Hardy vs. David Hart Smith

Matt Hardy is starting to remind me of the Rock and Roll Express 10 years past their prime. He just looks old. The Hart Dynasty, on the other hand, are a fresh act. While Kidd is the more exciting of the duo, tonight we get David Hart Smith.

Headlocks early on. Smith takes control, throwing Hardy to the corner and hitting him with a clothesline. Kicks, an elbow, and a headlock follow. Hardy fights back with a neckbreaker and a second rope leg drop. After action outside the ring, Smith hits a superplex. Commercial time.

Smith applies the abdominal stretch, as Striker explains the move. Smith gets a powerslam and a two count. Another two count after a Northern Lights suplex from Smith. Smith applies a chinlock. After Hardy fights his way out, he knocks Smith to the mat and hits a moonsault. Next, Hardy hits a neck breaker for another two count. Ditto after the side effect. Kidd jumps to ringside, distracting Hardy. The Hart Dynasty is sent to the back by the official. While Smith argues about it, Hardy rolls him up for the win.

Winner via pinfall: Matt Hardy

Ask the Divas time. Cheesy pick-up lines. Not that entertaining. What should happen if a girl has a crush on her best friend. Again not very entertaining responses.

Roddy Piper is hosting Raw on Monday. That could be good. Lay off the scripts and let Hot Rod be Hot Rod.

Match #2 –Zack Ryder vs. Shelton Benjamin

“The Tool” Zack Ryder takes on the most athletic underpushed wrestler in WWE. How did they pick this new ECW announcer? I’m getting nostalgic for Stevie Ray from the dying days of WCW Thunder.

Ryder is aggressive at the start, attacking Shelton. They show Rosa playing with her hair. God, the announcer sucks! Ryder applies a chin lock for what seems like several minutes. Ryder then hits a flying leg lariat and gets a two count. Shelton hits a belly to belly suplex and a springboard elbow. Shelton attempts a powerbomb outside the ring, but Ryder holds on, sending both to the mat. Shelton gets back in the ring though, and gets the countout win. He hits Ryder with Pay Dirt after the match.

Winner via countout: Shelton Benjamin

A video about Sheamus airs. Jerry Lawler and one of the bad announcers run down the Survivor Series card. Josh Matthews interviews Legacy, who make disparaging remarks about the wrestlers on Kofi Kingston’s team at Survivor Series.

Match #3 –Ted Dibiase vs. MVP

Lawler talks about when his team of midgets beat Doink and his midgets at a past Survivor Series. Cole giggles like a school girl. MVP beats back Dibiase’s early offense. After a knee drop, MVP applies a headlock. Cody Rhodes pulls Dibiase out of the ring to save him, but MVP hits a suice dive on both. Commercial time.

Dibiase gets back in the game when MVP misses a big boot in the corner. Dibiase attacks MVP outside the ring, focusing on MVP’s left arm. Inside the ring, Dibiase continues to work over the arm in a submission hold. MVP fights his way back and hits a hip toss. The two men exchange blows, and MVP wins out. MVP tries the Playmaker, but Dibiase blocks it. A big boot puts MVP back in control. Rhodes tries to intervene, but Henry hits him. MVP surprises Dibiase with a pin, using a small package.

Winner via pinfall: MVP

Another week, another show. But seriously, they need to address this announcing situation. The play-by-play depth chart is as bad as I have ever seen. It is time to reconsider hiring practices within WWE Headquarters.

Matt Johnson is now on Twitter. Join him at https://twitter.com/mattjohnsonSLAM. Email Matt at mattjohnson62@yahoo.com.